Abstract MXenes are a rapidly emerging family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides that have attracted a lot of interest because of their existing profile, which include rich surface chemistry, hydrophilicity, and excellent electrical conductivity. Moreover, the uses of MXenes in sensor technologies are chemical, biological, and environmental sensing which provide more context for their versatility. The study explores the processes via which MXenes improve sensor performance, emphasizing their remarkable electrical characteristics, high surface area, and variable surface functions. The examined reports revealed that how MXenes can be successfully integrated into different types of sensor platforms, offering insights into their guiding principles and performance indicators. Importantly, the current manuscript discusses the present issues and potential directions for MXene research with the goal of directing future investigations toward maximizing their synthesis and broadening their range of applications in sophisticated sensing technologies. The synthesis approaches of MXenes are thoroughly examined in this paper, with a focus on the critical techniques such as selective etching and delamination processes that produce high-quality, functionalized MXene sheets.
Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) present a promising route toward low-cost and efficient solar energy conversion. However, the performance of traditional TiO2 based photoanodes is often limited by slow electrontransport and high recombination rates. in this study, TiO2 nano particles were synthesised via a solvothermal method and modified through Ag ion beam implantation at varying ion fluences to enhance their photovoltaic properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the existence of anatase phase, with reduced crystallite size and increased defect density upon Ag implantation. UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrated enhanced absorption in the visible region, attributed to localized surface plasmon resonance effects and defect-induced sub-bandgap states. Field Emission scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) showed morphological changes including surface roughening and nanoparticle agglomeration with increasing ion fluence. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and J-V measurements revealed that low-dose Ag implantation (1 & times; 10(14) and 5 & times; 10(14) ions/cm(2)) reduced charge transfer resistance and improved power conversion efficiency from 5.69 % (pristine) to a maximum of 6.15 %. However, higher implantation doses led to efficiency deterioration due to excessive defect formation. These findings demonstrate the controlled Ag ion implantation is an effective strategy to enhance the efficiency of DSSCs through improved light absorption and charge transport properties.
Fe@SnS2 nanocomposites exhibit boundless special characteristics that offer them substantial eligibility regarding catalysis, energy storage, and environmental remediation. In this work, SnS2 nanoparticles with different aging period (1-day, 2-days and 3-days) and Fe nanoparticles (0.1 M, 0.2 M, and 0.3 M) were prepared separately. It is followed by the preparation of Fe@SnS2 nanocomposite by coupling iron nanoparticles with the tin disulfide (1-day) matrix (Fe@SnS2-1, Fe@SnS2-2, and Fe@SnS2-3). The various studies like XRD, UV-vis, photoluminescence (PL) spectra analysis, and transmission electron microscope have been used in the characterization of the synthesized Fe@SnS2 nanocomposites. The powder X-ray diffraction investigation showed that the both SnS2 and Fe@SnS2 samples sustained the high level of crystallinity. In UV-visible spectrum, changes have been observed in the optical properties of the samples along with the bandgap energy modification. SnS2 nanoparticles show an energy gap of 2.79 eV, however, in Fe@SnS2 nanocomposites, the bandgap reduces to 2.46 eV. The existing surface defect states of the Fe@SnS2 nanocomposites were analyzed using PL spectroscopy, which provided a better understanding of the electron-hole recombination behavior. The TEM images of the samples revealed the morphology, size distribution and effective incorporation of Fe nanoparticles into the SnS2 matrix. The FTIR spectra of Fe@SnS2 nanocomposites prove the appearance of the typical functional groups related to both SnS2 and Fe integration. The catalytic performance of SnS2 nanoparticles and Fe@SnS2 nanocomposites was investigated by the photo degradation of methylene blue dye solution upon visible light irradiation, and it is noted that the Fe@SnS2 nanocomposites exhibited higher catalytic efficiency, establishing them as highly effective photocatalysts.
The uncontrolled discharge of textile dyes such as Pollen Yellow G (PY-G) and Nile Blue A (NB-A) into aquatic systems poses serious environmental and health risks due to their toxicity, persistence, and resistance to biodegradation. In this study, xanthan gum-grafted poly(acrylic acid) (XG-g-PAA) hydrogel was successfully synthesized and evaluated as an efficient adsorbent for dye removal using batch adsorption experiments. The hydrogel was characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, TGA, and BET/BJH analyses, confirming a rough, highly porous, and sponge-like morphology with abundant active sites and good thermal stability up to 250 degrees C, which are favorable for adsorption applications. Under optimized conditions of contact time 60 min, adsorbent dose 0.01 g, initial dye concentration 250 mg/L, temperature 298 K, and pH 6 (PY-G) and 8 (NB-A), the adsorption process exhibited excellent performance. Kinetic analysis showed that the adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model with R2 > 0.99, indicating chemisorption as the dominant mechanism, while equilibrium data were best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm, yielding maximum adsorption capacities of 327 mg/g for PY-G and 636 mg/g for NB-A. Thermodynamic parameters further supported the adsorption behavior, where Delta H degrees values of 9.396 and 6.450 kJ/mol and Delta S degrees values of 31.32 and 40.53 J/mol. K were obtained for PY-G and NB-A, respectively, while Delta G degrees values decreased from (-220.06 to -1,032.7 J/mol) for PY-G dye and from (-5,422.41 to -7,043.31 J/mol) for NB-A with increasing temperature (293-333 K), confirming that the adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-driven, consistent with previously reported xanthan-based hydrogel systems showing high adsorption capacities and Langmuir behavior. Furthermore, the hydrogel demonstrated good reusability with only a slight reduction in efficiency after multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. Overall, the results indicate that XG-g-PAA hydrogel is a highly effective, recyclable, and eco-friendly adsorbent for the removal of hazardous dyes from wastewater.
The present paper, 1,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl) prop-2-en-1-one (BMP), a chalcone derivative with strong pi-conjugation and charge-transfer characteristics, by the Claisen-Schmidt condensation method the BMP crystal was synthesized and subjected to acoustic shock waves to evaluate its structural and optical stability under dynamic loading conditions. Shock pulses were generated using a semi-automatic Reddy tube setup, and the effects thus produced were analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD results confirmed that there is no phase transition up to the fifth shock pulse, reflecting the resilience of the orthorhombic structure, with only a minor shift and variation in the intensity of diffraction peaks arising from lattice compression and dynamic recrystallization. The crystallite size decreased initially and recovered later. These observations evidence a reversible microstructural evolution. By optical microscopy, sequential formation and healing of surface defects were identified, which confirmed the occurrence of the process of shock-induced defect annihilation. In the UV-vis analysis, transmittance increased linearly until the fourth shock up to similar to 38.5 % and thereafter reduced slightly. A small modulation of the optical band gap, from 3.68 eV to 3.73 eV, and then a reduction to 3.69 eV at the 5th shock conditions, has been obtained. These observations demonstrate that controlled acoustic shock treatment effectively tunes the microstructure and optical response of BMP crystals without their structural degradation, which makes them a promising candidate for stable, high-performance nonlinear optical and photonic devices to be operated under extreme environments.
Contamination of surface waters by phenylurea herbicides such as diuron (DUN) remains a persistent environmental concern, demanding sensing platforms that operate reliably under realistic conditions. Here, we report a mixed-phase iron selenide (FeSe) electrode composed of FeSe2 and Fe3Se4, obtained through a hydrothermal synthesis followed by thermal conversion, for electrochemical detection of diuron. The coexistence of these two iron selenide phases generates a conductive and redox-active interface that promotes rapid electron transport and efficient surface-mediated oxidation of diuron at neutral pH. The modified electrode displays a clear and concentration-dependent electrochemical response toward diuron using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, enabling quantitative analysis with a detection limit of 0.32 mu M. Interference studies confirm that the sensing response is largely unaffected by common coexisting organic species and metal ions. The feasibility of the proposed sensor was further demonstrated by accurate diuron determination in pond and river water samples, achieving satisfactory recoveries (93-100.3 %) without complicated sample pretreatment. These findings demonstrate that iron selenide offer a robust and environmentally compatible platform for monitoring herbicide residues in natural water systems.
Levofloxacin (LEVO), a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is an emerging contaminant in water. In this study, degradation of levofloxacin by TiO2 and ZnO photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) was investigated. Direct UV photolysis led to 21 % LEVO degradation, while UV/H2O2, UV/PMS and UV/PS resulted in 36, 60 and 76 % removal of LEVO (0.15 mM), in 60 min. Combination of TiO2 and ZnO showed significant synergistic effect on UV/oxidant systems, indicated by 60, 75 and 90 % LEVO removal by UV/TiO2/H2O2, UV/ZnO/PMS and UV/ZnO/PS, respectively, in 60 min. The impact of reaction conditions, such as initial concentration of LEVO, oxidant concentration, photocatalysts loading, inorganic anions, solution pH etc. was investigated. The presence of inorganic ions significantly inhibited the degradation of LEVO. The FTIR analysis revealed the appearance of a large number of smaller degradation byproducts (DPs) during photocatalytic degradation of LEVO. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis revealed 40, 61 and 75 % mineralization of LEVO by UV/H2O2/TiO2, UV/PMS/ZnO and UV/PS/ZnO systems, respectively, in 60 min. It was concluded that TiO2 and ZnO photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes are efficient methods for the removal of emerging contaminants, such as levofloxacin from the water environment.
The study of interaction of shock waves and amino acid-based compounds offers valuable insights into the molecular interactions and processes essential for understanding the evolution of life on Earth. In this study, glycine picrate (GP) crystals were grown using the solvent evaporation solution growth method. The crystals were subjected to one to five consecutive shock pulses, and their structural, optical, dielectric, and morphological properties were systematically analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, dielectric spectroscopy, and optical microscopy. The XRD results revealed notable changes in diffraction peak intensities under shock-loaded conditions, with the second shock-loaded state showing enhanced crystallinity compared to both pristine and other shock-loaded conditions. However, increased shock pulses led to surface damage, reducing optical transparency. Dielectric analysis highlighted a significant enhancement in dielectric constant and a reduction in resistance in the second shock-loaded condition, indicating superior energy storage potential. These results are strongly correlated with structural improvements observed in the PXRD data. Despite the observed surface damage and reduced optical transmission for higher shock pulses, the second shock-loaded state demonstrated optimized properties for energy storage.
Pesticide-contaminated industrial effluents remain a major environmental challenge due to inadequate wastewater treatment. Reduced graphene oxide-ionic liquid (rGO-IL) composites have recently emerged as efficient materials for pollutant removal. In this study, a novel composite of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) functionalized with 1,3-di[1H-imidazol-1-yl]-2-propanol (DIPO) ionic liquid, (rGO-DIPO) was fabricated via co-precipitation method as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of acetamiprid and fipronil pesticides from aqueous environment. The composite was characterized using SEM, FTIR, XRD, and EDX, confirming successful functionalization. The XRD results showed that the rGO-DIPO composite exhibited a monoclinic structure likely due to the sequential orientation of DIPO molecules intercalated between rGO sheets with a crystallite size of 15.63 nm. The FTIR analysis confirmed the synthesis of rGO, DIPO and the final rGO-DIPO composite. SEM analysis revealed that rGO exhibited a layered, wrinkled sheet-like structure with irregular shapes, while the rGO-DIPO composite showed a smoother, denser surface with an interconnected network and an average particle size of 15.25 mu m. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of carbon and oxygen as dominant elements in both rGO and rGO-DIPO, with increased carbon content in rGO-DIPO indicating successful ionic liquid incorporation. The rGO-DIPO composite exhibited excellent adsorption capacities under optimized conditions for acetamiprid (pH 13, 40 min, 6 mg sorbent dosage, 50 ppm sorbate concentration, and 30 degrees C) and fipronil (pH 13, 60 min, 6 mg sorbent dosage, 40 ppm sorbate concentration and 30 degrees C). Kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption of both pesticides followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption data best fitted the Langmuir isotherm model, confirming favorable homogeneous physiosorption with calculated qe values of 89.61 mg/g and 108.81 mg/g for acetamiprid and fipronil respectively, which were highly concordant to the experimental qe values. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process was exothermic, spontaneous, and entropy-decreasing. Additionally, the rGO-DIPO composite exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining adsorption capacity upto five cycles. These findings highlight the robust potential of rGO-DIPO as a highly effective and reusable adsorbent for the removal of harmful pesticides from wastewater.
In2S3-NPs were synthesized by the coprecipitation method and were characterized. The synthesized nanomaterials were pure and crystalline in nature and size of nanoparticles was almost 30.49 nm having granular morphology. The EDX results suggested that the nanocomposites have higher ratio of Indium than sulfur and SEM image showed even growth of In2S3 white powder crystals. Three electrode system were applied for the calculation of electrochemical properties of NPs. In2S3 material exhibited excellent capacitance behavior as compared to all aqueous electrolytes, which can improve the effective water transport due to its surface area, large pore diameter, total pore area, and volume. A larger capacity of In2S3 was observed in 2 M KOH, which may be due to a lower ESR. In addition, there are thick electrode films (>10 mg/cm(2)) that can be used in real supercapacitor devices. GCD and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy also confirm good candidates for supercapacitors. In addition, the durability of this material is improved by using effective electrodes or bonding electrode structures, bonding materials, or less materials that can last for extended time. From this study, it was concluded that these nanoparticles can be applied as excellent supercapacitors. It is evident from the results that In2S3-NPs have larger surface area and accelerates the redox reaction onto Ag/AgCl electrode. The results of CV and GCD confirmed that the formed nanocomposites are pseudo-capacitive in nature and should be applied as a possible supercapacitor in electrode materials.
The electronic structure and anticancer potential of p-nitrobenzyl-modified Brevilin A (BA-9) were systematically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and molecular docking approaches. The structural modification and its impact on electronic properties represent a key novelty of this study. The optimized geometry of BA-9 exhibited strong agreement with expected bond lengths and angles, confirming structural stability. Frontier molecular orbital and natural population analyses revealed distinct nucleophilic and electrophilic regions, with the nitro group acting as a strong electron-withdrawing substituent that modulates charge distribution. The calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gap suggests moderate chemical reactivity and enhanced molecular stability. Time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) simulations produced UV-Vis absorption bands consistent with experimental observations, while B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)-calculated 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts closely matched reported data, validating the proposed structure. In addition, drug-likeness evaluation and ADME/Tox predictions indicate that BA-9 satisfies Lipinski's rule of five, supporting its favorable pharmacokinetic profile. Molecular docking studies against key cancer-related targets, including ALK kinase, KRAS-G12D, ERR gamma, and ER alpha, demonstrated strong binding affinities mediated by hydrogen bonding, pi-pi stacking, and hydrophobic interactions. Overall, this study provides mechanistic insights into how p-nitrobenzyl modification enhances the electronic characteristics and target-binding potential of Brevilin A, highlighting BA-9 as a promising lead compound for anticancer drug development.
Industrial effluents release synthetic dyes, which are toxic, persistent, and resistant to conventional wastewater treatment. In the present study a rapid, effective, and environmentally friendly ultrasound-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (UA-LLME) method based on deep eutectic solvents (DES) was developed to extract crystal violet (CV), congo red (CR), and neutral red (NR) in aqueous samples. Various DES systems were initially screened but choline chloride-glycolic acid exhibited the highest extraction efficiency and was selected for the optimized method. Under optimal conditions, recoveries higher than 95 % were obtained for all three dyes. The linearity of the proposed method was good within the range of 5-30 ppm (R-2 >= 0.992), relative standard deviations were low (<1.6 %), satisfactory limits of detection (84.0-94.2 mu g L-1), and high enrichment factors (9.75-9.90). The validity of the method was also tested successfully by the standards addition method by analyzing real canal water samples, obtaining recoveries between 95.65 and 97.18 %. The developed DES-based UA-LLME method is much more significant than reported methods in terms of simplicity, short extraction time, high efficiency, and reduced consumption of hazardous organic solvents; consider it a green method of the analysis of dye in environmental water samples.
The aim is to compare the efficiency of various pyrolysis systems, including traditional pyrolysis, catalytic pyrolysis, and plasma pyrolysis. The pyrolysis technology was improved in several ways, particularly through the introduction of plasma pyrolysis, which significantly increased efficiency to 82 %, compared to traditional methods, where the efficiency was 50-55 %. This enhancement was achieved due to the high efficiency of gaseous products, which accounted for up to 70 % of the total output in plasma pyrolysis, compared to 60 % in traditional pyrolysis. Additionally, the use of SiO2 as a catalyst played a key role in improving the process, reducing the volume of solid and liquid residues by 20-30 %. It has been established that the optimal conditions for pyrolysis vary depending on the method employed. Traditional pyrolysis is effective at 500 degrees C with a process duration of up to 60 min; however, it exhibits lower environmental efficiency, generating a higher amount of contaminant by-products and producing greater CO2 emissions per unit of gas obtained. Catalytic pyrolysis using SiO2 operates at 550 degrees C with a shorter residence time (20-40 min), resulting in reduced formation of solid residues and increased gas yields. Plasma pyrolysis achieves the most favorable outcomes at 600 degrees C under low-pressure conditions, offering a high yield of hydrogen and carbon monoxide while minimizing the emission of harmful gases.
Nickel-incorporated vanadium pentoxide (V2-2xNi3xO5-delta, 0.03 <= x <= 0.06) microparticles were synthesized and structurally characterized, revealing a biphasic composition dominated by orthorhombic V2O5 with Pmmn space group and a minor triclinic NiV2O6 phase with cap P 1 space group, as confirmed by Rietveld refinement. With increasing Ni content, the orthorhombic lattice parameters expanded due to ionic substitution. At the same time, the emergence of a distinct peak at 2 theta = 23.57 degrees indicated the onset of NiV2O6 phase formation, reaching 12.2 wt% at x = 0.05 and signifying a solubility-driven structural transition. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the presence of mixed oxidation states of Ni (Ni1+, Ni2+, Ni3+) and V (V4+, V5+), along with a chemically diverse oxygen environment comprising lattice oxygen, surface hydroxyls, and adsorbed oxygen species. The as-prepared compounds exhibited potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, demonstrating significant inhibition against the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and effective activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial mechanism is attributed to a synergistic interplay of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, redox-mediated metal ion toxicity, and physical disruption of microbial membranes. Moreover, the increasing molar fraction of Ni enhanced antimicrobial efficacy, supporting a concentration-dependent increase in ROS production and microbial interaction.
Poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide-co-acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) [p(NPMAA)] microgel particles were synthesized by employing the free radical precipitation polymerization method. Spherical palladium nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the p(NPMAA) microgel system. The morphology and stability of purified p(NPMAA) microgels and the p(NPMAA) microgels loaded with palladium nanoparticles [Pd-[p(NPMAA)]] were examined by TEM, TGA, FT-IR, and XRD techniques. The catalytic activity of the Pd-[p(NPMAA)] system was evaluated for two different organic transformations (Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and nitroarenes reduction reactions). Under green solvent conditions, a series of nitroarenes were effectively converted to corresponding aryl amines with good to excellent yields (91-96 %). The Pd-[p(NPMAA)] microgel particles rapidly and efficiently catalyzed the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of different boronic acids with several aryl halides and produced corresponding biaryl compounds. Surprisingly, all coupling reactions were accomplished within 02-16 min and provided fabulous yields ranging from 92-99 %. All synthesized compounds were purified and analyzed by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The stability, efficiency, and recycling ability of the Pd-[p(NPMAA)] microgel particles proved to be an effective catalyst for both studied transformations. The Pd-[p(NPMAA)] catalyst is stable below 250 degrees C and can be stored under normal conditions.
A series of manganese-substituted V2-xMn x O5-delta compounds (0.05 <= x <= 0.25) is synthesized via the solid-state reaction method. The chemical composition and vibrational characteristics of the samples were probed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of Mn3+ and Mn4+ ions, with the symmetric Mn2p 1 / 2 and Mn2p 3 / 2 peaks showing increased intensity ratios as manganese concentration rises. FTIR spectra displayed distinct vibrational modes of V2O5 and MnV2O6 phases, validating the incorporation of Mn ions in the lattice structure. Electrochemical performance in a 1 M KOH electrolyte showed a specific capacitance of 277 F/g at a 5 mV/s scan rate via cyclic voltammetry, corroborated by 286 F/g at a 0.5 A/g current density from galvanostatic charge-discharge tests. Among the prepared samples, the electrode with x = 0.20 demonstrated the highest capacitance, retained 91 % of specific capacitance and 99 % of coulombic efficiency after 5,000 charge-discharge cycles. The electrode achieved an energy density of 25.4 Wh/kg and a power density of 180 W/kg, reflecting superior supercapacitive properties. The synergy of manganese substitution and the cost-effective synthesis approach makes V2-xMn x O5-delta a promising material for supercapacitor electrodes, supporting the advancements of sustainable energy storage technologies.
MXenes are quickly intensifying family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides, that have gained significant attention for its metallic conductivity, tunable surface terminations, and hydrophilic morphology. This review provides an overview of the significant synthesis methods of metal oxide/MXene nanocomposites and speaks of their improved performance in photocatalytic systems and supercapacitors. The metal oxides like CuO, Cu2O, ZnO and NiO anchored to MXene sheets exhibit enhanced charge transport, interfacial contact, and active-site accessibility. Electrochemical experiments have been reported to indicate that NiO/MXene nanocomposites provide very high specific capacitance of 770C g(-1) with outstanding cycling stability (>97 % retention). Photocatalytic systems such as CuO/MXene and ZnO/MXene have much better degradation efficiencies, 90 % of methylene blue degradation in 80 min and over 90 % of methyl orange degradation in the presence of visible light and solar energy respectively. These improvements are attributed to the good band alignment, fast separation of electrons and holes, and heterojunction interfaces. In general, metal oxide/MXene nanocomposites have a high supercapacitor efficiency and photocatalytic environmental remediation potential.
